Jury grants life with shot at parole in baby's death

Nellis AFB Airman Brandon Parish broke down in tears in court as he apologized to the family of the infant girl he was convicted of beating to death.

He begged the jury at his sentencing hearing Monday for mercy and a chance someday to reclaim what might remain of his life.

After two hours of deliberations, the jury granted his request and gave him the lightest possible sentence -- life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.

Parish, 21, was convicted two weeks ago of first-degree murder for the child abuse slaying of his girlfriend's infant daughter. The crime dictates a life prison sentence with or without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

The baby's 21-year-old mother, Dawn Mathiasen, was convicted of child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm for leaving the baby alone with a man she had been told was suspected of prior abuse.

She will be sentenced June 15 by District Judge Joseph Bonaventure and could get a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Mathiasen had faced second-degree murder charges alleging she ignored instructions by police after an earlier abuse incident to keep the girl, Samantha Storm, away from Parish.

She didn't, and the baby was beaten to death on April 17, 1997, while her mother was at a fast food restaurant.

The jury was hopelessly deadlocked on that charge, although it determined there was sufficient evidence to convict her of child abuse and neglect.

Prosecutors have alleged the girl died at Nellis as a result of being slammed against a solid object.

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